I was thinking of possibly having my Sport Line wheels powder coated to switch things up a bit. I like how it's temporary since my car is a lease and I'm not interested in changing out the rims because I really like my current ones and I don't want to do anything that would potentially void my warranty.

I've never done powder coating before so I would appreciate any comments, tips, suggestions on the process. How easy is it to remove? Will it harm the rim underneath? etc.

I was thinking of possibly having my Sport Line wheels powder coated to switch things up a bit. I like how it's temporary since my car is a lease and I'm not interested in changing out the rims because I really like my current ones and I don't want to do anything that would potentially void my warranty.

I've never done powder coating before so I would appreciate any comments, tips, suggestions on the process. How easy is it to remove? Will it harm the rim underneath? etc.

Thanks,

Ryan

Powdercoating is like paint.....its not coming off. As seen above, I think you mean Plastidip.

"I was thinking of possibly having my Sport Line wheels plasti-dipped to switch things up a bit. I like how it's temporary since my car is a lease and I'm not interested in changing out the rims because I really like my current ones and I don't want to do anything that would potentially void my warranty.

I've never used plasti-dip before so I would appreciate any comments, tips, suggestions on the process. How easy is it to remove? Will it harm the rim underneath? etc."

The durability of plasti-dip as a wheel finish is still being debated. Many believe it will begin to peel off or chip due to heat and road debris while others say it's fine. Luckily, it's cheap enough where it may not hurt to give it a shot!

Plasti-dip will not void your warranty in any way, and you can always return the wheel 100% back to it's original state.

"I was thinking of possibly having my Sport Line wheels plasti-dipped to switch things up a bit. I like how it's temporary since my car is a lease and I'm not interested in changing out the rims because I really like my current ones and I don't want to do anything that would potentially void my warranty.

I've never used plasti-dip before so I would appreciate any comments, tips, suggestions on the process. How easy is it to remove? Will it harm the rim underneath? etc."

I plasti-dipped the stock 400M's on my 328i M Sport and have been completely satisfied with the results. The finished product looks exactly like what you'd expect from having the rims powder coated matte black, but for a fraction of the cost as well as the ability to reverse later.

Go check out the tutorials on the dipyourcar website and you'll have pretty much all the info you need to DIY. Some personal tips I can offer are: like others have said, be sure to pass on the lazy methods of spraying the wheels while still mounted and just take the wheels off the car to plasti-dip them. Its the only way you can get the full coverage needed to ensure an even finish across the rim.

I recommend applying a total of 1 can per rim, which will ensure the plasti-dip coating is thick enough to resist normal wear and tear. A thick coating also makes it easier to peel the plasti-dip off if/when you want to do that. Clean the wheels meticulously and once they dry, I recommend wiping the rim surfaces down with rubbing alcohol as it helps the plasti-dip bond to the glossy finish of our stock rims. From there its just a matter of simple spray-painting techniques to apply the plasti-dip. First coat should be ultra-light, and the following coats should be light enough to ensure no running or bubbling. Depending on the conditions I've found a good 20-30 mins of drying time is needed between coats, and once finished you should allow as much as 12 hours for the plasti-dip to cure before re-mounting the rims. Be careful with your breaker bar and torque wrench when putting the wheels back on; you don't want to rub against the rim and tear the plasti-dip surface.

I want to do plasti dip but haven't been able to find a shop who is willing to do it. They either don't do it anymore or don't know what it is! I don't trust myself enough to "DIY".

Your car looks great Stormtroop!

Thanks man! And hey, when you don't feel like you can do it yourself definitely get someone else to do it for you. My suggestion would be to post on your local craigslist; I have no doubt you'll get a number of people who'll be willing to do the job.

Thanks man! And hey, when you don't feel like you can do it yourself definitely get someone else to do it for you. My suggestion would be to post on your local craigslist; I have no doubt you'll get a number of people who'll be willing to do the job.

That's a great suggestion I definitely will do that! Thanks! I contacted dipyourcar and some of their authorized sellers and shockingly either they don't respond or no longer dip. Hopefully I will have luck this way!

Although you say in your follow-up that you're interested in plasti-dip, I will say that I had my sport line 18" rims powdercoated matte black (on a Melbourne 328iX). Guy did an excellent job, rims came out perfect and look great, and he even sanded/painted my rusty hubs for free.

From what I understand, power coating rims does not void their warranty. You may want to check regarding the lease rules. Powder coating is the way to go if you can - I can wash my rims with any chemicals I want and there is no peeling or inconsistencies in the finish.